International Leprosy Association - History of Leprosy

Philippines

The Spanish recorded leprosy in the Philippines from the beginning of the seventeenth century. The Jesuit priests built a hospital, originally for the indigenous inhabitants of the islands, but later dedicated to those with leprosy.

See Site of Significance: Culion for a description of leprosy in the Philippines under the American Administration

In 2010, WHO reported that a total of 8386 cases were registered in the Western Pacific Region with a prevalence rate of 0.05 per ten thousand population. Five countries (China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam) contributed to 86% of the total prevalence.